By SEMA Editors

Submit your 2017 SEMA Hall of Fame forms before the March 10 deadline.

SEMA is now accepting nominations for its Hall of Fame. As a SEMA member, you have the opportunity to nominate an industry professional for the 2017 SEMA Hall of Fame—an award established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments on a national basis have enhanced the stature of, and significantly contributed to, the industry’s growth.

A rule of thumb to qualify could be to ask yourself the following question: “If this person had never existed, how would SEMA and the industry be different?”

Please take a moment to review the SEMA Hall of Fame website, SEMA Hall of Fame criteria and listings of past inductees. In order to assist the Hall of Fame Committee in making their selection, please provide a brief statement, including accomplishments and comments as to why, based on the award criteria, the individual is deserving of this honor. Your completed nomination form is confidential and vital to helping the Hall of Fame Committee make their selection for the 2017 SEMA Hall of Fame.

Please submit your 2017 SEMA Hall of Fame forms before the March 10 deadline.

The 2016 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees were Matt Agosta, Steele Rubber Products; Chip Foose, Foose Design; and Gary Hooker, Hooker Headers.

To learn more about the SEMA Hall of Fame and for a list of inductees, visit www.sema.org/hof or contact Lindsay Bianco at lindsayb@sema.org or 909-978-6692.

By SEMA Editors

Submit your 2017 SEMA Hall of Fame forms before the March 10 deadline.

SEMA is now accepting nominations for its Hall of Fame. As a SEMA member, you have the opportunity to nominate an industry professional for the 2017 SEMA Hall of Fame—an award established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments on a national basis have enhanced the stature of, and significantly contributed to, the industry’s growth.

A rule of thumb to qualify could be to ask yourself the following question: “If this person had never existed, how would SEMA and the industry be different?”

Please take a moment to review the SEMA Hall of Fame website, SEMA Hall of Fame criteria and listings of past inductees. In order to assist the Hall of Fame Committee in making their selection, please provide a brief statement, including accomplishments and comments as to why, based on the award criteria, the individual is deserving of this honor. Your completed nomination form is confidential and vital to helping the Hall of Fame Committee make their selection for the 2017 SEMA Hall of Fame.

Please submit your 2017 SEMA Hall of Fame forms before the March 10 deadline.

The 2016 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees were Matt Agosta, Steele Rubber Products; Chip Foose, Foose Design; and Gary Hooker, Hooker Headers.

To learn more about the SEMA Hall of Fame and for a list of inductees, visit www.sema.org/hof or contact Lindsay Bianco at lindsayb@sema.org or 909-978-6692.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

At this weekend’s Race & Performance Expo, teams will compete against the clock to disassemble and reassemble a small-block Chevy in 33 minutes or faster.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow 10th Season Ready to Kick Off at the Race & Performance Expo

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Engine Challenge is ready to kick off its 10th season at the Race & Performance Expo, February 25–26, in Schaumburg, Illinois. Thirty teams will compete for their chance to qualify for the Dual National Championships held later this year at the SEMA Show and PRI Trade Show. Each team will compete against the clock to disassemble and reassemble a small-block Chevy in 33 minutes or faster. The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge was born at the Race & Performance Expo in 2008. Now the new owners of the Race & Performance Expo, HROT will use proceeds to help fund scholarships to HROT students. For a complete schedule of this week’s competition, visit www.hotroddersoftomorrow.com. The next competition will be hosted at the Summit I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama in Cleveland, March 17–19.

Vic Wood

WELD Racing Adds Vic Wood as Senior Director of Sales

WELD Racing has appointed Vic Wood to senior director of sales, where he will assume the role of managing WELD Racing’s top accounts and providing leadership over many of its strategic sales initiatives. Wood has established a record of developing and growing distribution relationships and sales strategies in the performance aftermarket domestically and abroad. These accomplishments began in his native Australia and continued with business development across the Pacific Rim, including Japan, China, New Zealand and South East Asia. Prior to joining WELD Racing, Wood held numerous leadership positions in the performance aftermarket, and is the current immediate past chairman of the SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC). He also serves on numerous industry committees and task forces.

AM General Selects Brighton Cromwell as Sole Authorized Distributor of Certified HMMWV Parts

AM General has announced it has selected global supply chain integrator Brighton Cromwell to be its sole authorized aftermarket reseller of certified HMMWV parts. There are approximately 230,000 HMMWVs currently in military vehicle fleets around the world performing front-line missions demonstrating that the HMMWV remains a critical operational asset. Brighton Cromwell will provide support for all HMMWV configurations built over the last 30 years. Additionally, as AM General’s sole aftermarket parts provider, the company will help AM General manage lead times, expedite parts shipments and provide customer service to AM General’s customers.

Jeff White

Westin Hires Jeff White as Product Manager

Westin Automotive has announced the addition of Jeff White as product manager. He officially joined the company in mid-December 2016. White will be responsible for managing product lifecycles. He comes to Westin with many years of experience, having served in a variety of capacities and job functions within the industry, ranging from selling foreign car parts with Geon Automotive to most recently serving for more than 30 years with Banks Power.

Kerri Petersen

Marx Group Promotes Kerri Petersen to Executive Vice President, Marketing and Creative Services

Marx Group has promoted Kerri Petersen to executive vice president, marketing and creative services. The announcement coincides with the 12th anniversary of Petersen joining the agency. With a deep knowledge of the automotive and heavy-duty aftermarket and expertise in marketing and media buying, Petersen is responsible for supporting strategic marketing plans, managing the creative services team and developing creative campaigns for clients. She also directs all media planning and helps guide public relations and editorial opportunities for clients. Before joining Marx Group, Petersen led marketing efforts for Apogee Sound and Jandy Pool and Spa Products, a division of Waterpik. Her career in marketing began more than 20 years ago in the record industry where she worked for Global Pacific Records and later at Access Music.

Chip Foose earlier this week released new images of his latest creation—the ’39 Cadillac custom known as Madam X. Photo credit: Eric Geisert

New Studio Images Released for Chip Foose’s Madam X Cadillac

Custom car designer Chip Foose earlier this week released new images of his latest creation—the ’39 Cadillac custom known as Madam X. The car was first unveiled to the public at a packed event November 1 at the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and after Madam X returned back to Foose Design headquarters in Huntington Beach, California, a studio photographer began documenting the one-of-a-kind Cadillac for posterity. The photoset includes detailed views of the interior, exterior and engine bay from multiple angles. Built for auto dealership magnate Wes Rydell and his wife Vivian, the bespoke Madam X was based on a four-door ’39 Cadillac 60 Special, but can trace its design back to an original ’35 concept sketch by GM designer Art Ross. The classical design is executed with chrome trim, a custom-made leather interior, one-off cloth Carson top, custom mixed BASF Glasurit paint, a hand-painted blonde wood dash and MHT billet aluminum wheels designed after period Cadillac hubcaps. Contrasting the old-school coachbuilt exterior are wholly modern drivetrain components, including a Corvette Gen V LT-1 engine, eight-speed 8L90 automatic transmission sourced from a Cadillac Escalade coupled to a Camaro Z01 third member, C6 Corvette front and rear suspension and Pirelli performance tires.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation has been introduced to require registration plates on the front and back of all motor vehicles.

Legislation has been introduced to require registration plates on the front and back of all motor vehicles. The bill would ensure that two license plates would be issued for both specialty and regular plates. The bill has been referred to the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation has been introduced to require registration plates on the front and back of all motor vehicles.

Legislation has been introduced to require registration plates on the front and back of all motor vehicles. The bill would ensure that two license plates would be issued for both specialty and regular plates. The bill has been referred to the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation has been introduced to require registration plates on the front and back of all motor vehicles.

Legislation has been introduced to require registration plates on the front and back of all motor vehicles. The bill would ensure that two license plates would be issued for both specialty and regular plates. The bill has been referred to the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation has been introduced to require registration plates on the front and back of all motor vehicles.

Legislation has been introduced to require registration plates on the front and back of all motor vehicles. The bill would ensure that two license plates would be issued for both specialty and regular plates. The bill has been referred to the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A bill to exempt a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that is licensed as an antique vehicle from the imposition of local license taxes and fees was approved by the Virginia Senate.

A bill to exempt a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that is licensed as an antique vehicle from the imposition of local license taxes and fees was approved by the Virginia Senate and was sent to the House Transportation Committee for consideration. Virginia law defines an “antique motor vehicle” as every motor vehicle that was actually manufactured or designated by the manufacturer as a model manufactured in a calendar year not less than 25 years prior to January 1 of each calendar year, and is owned solely as a collector's item.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A bill to exempt a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that is licensed as an antique vehicle from the imposition of local license taxes and fees was approved by the Virginia Senate.

A bill to exempt a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that is licensed as an antique vehicle from the imposition of local license taxes and fees was approved by the Virginia Senate and was sent to the House Transportation Committee for consideration. Virginia law defines an “antique motor vehicle” as every motor vehicle that was actually manufactured or designated by the manufacturer as a model manufactured in a calendar year not less than 25 years prior to January 1 of each calendar year, and is owned solely as a collector's item.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A bill to exempt a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that is licensed as an antique vehicle from the imposition of local license taxes and fees was approved by the Virginia Senate.

A bill to exempt a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that is licensed as an antique vehicle from the imposition of local license taxes and fees was approved by the Virginia Senate and was sent to the House Transportation Committee for consideration. Virginia law defines an “antique motor vehicle” as every motor vehicle that was actually manufactured or designated by the manufacturer as a model manufactured in a calendar year not less than 25 years prior to January 1 of each calendar year, and is owned solely as a collector's item.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.